Montoya ran a quick lap on the 2.5-mile historic oval at 49.375 seconds
at 182.278 mph. The pole was ECR/Richard Childress Racing's third pole
position at the famed Brickyard. Kevin Harvick captured the pole and
went on to victory in the 2003. Jeff Burton won the pole and teammate
Clint Bowyer qualified second in 2006.

"We were fortunate to have been one of the first NASCAR teams to ever
test at Indy, with Dale Earnhardt, so I've been a fan of this place for
a long time," said Danny Lawrence, trackside manager for
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines. "I'm a fan of open-wheel racing and,
through Earnhardt, got to know a lot of great people who have raced here
over the years. This place has a special place in history, and in our
hearts, after winning here with Dale in 1995 and Kevin Harvick in 2003.
Right before qualifying, Bobby Dell, engine tuner for the No. 1 car,
said he had butterflies in his stomach and that he didn't even have
those when he got married. If you're a racer, this place, with all its
history over the past 100 years, is just special. Everybody puts in a
lot of effort to run well here and all the work that everyone at ECR has
put in over the last few months is paying off."